One of them shared the produce of his fishery with us
this evening.
In the afternoon of the 6th Belanger and another Canadian arrived from
Fort Providence, sent by Mr. Weeks with two trains of dogs, some spirits
and tobacco for the Indians, a change of dress for ourselves, and a
little tea and sugar. They also brought letters for us from England and
from Mr. Back and Mr. Wentzel. By the former we received the gratifying
intelligence of the successful termination of Captain Parry's voyage, and
were informed of the promotion of myself and Mr. Back, and of poor Hood,
our grief for whose loss was renewed by this intelligence.
The letter from Mr. Back stated that the rival Companies in the fur trade
had united but that, owing to some cause which had not been explained to
him, the goods intended as rewards to Akaitcho and his band which we had
demanded in the spring from the North-West Company were not sent. There
were however some stores lying for us at Moose-Deer Island, which had
been ordered for the equipment of our voyagers, and Mr. Back had gone
across to that establishment to make a selection of the articles we could
spare for a temporary present to the Indians. The disappointment at the
non-arrival of the goods was seriously felt by us as we had looked
forward with pleasure to the time when we should be enabled to recompense
our kind Indian friends for their tender sympathy in our distresses, and
the assistance they had so cheerfully and promptly rendered. I now
regretted to find that Mr. Wentzel and his party, in their return from
the sea, had suffered severely on their march along the Copper-Mine
River, having on one occasion, as he mentioned, had no food but tripe de
roche for eleven days.
All the Indians flocked to our encampment to learn the news and to
receive the articles brought for them. Having got some spirits and
tobacco they withdrew to the tent of the chief and passed the greater
part of the night in singing. We had now the indescribable gratification
of changing our linen which had been worn ever since our departure from
the sea-coast.
December 8.
After a long conference with Akaitcho we took leave of him and his kind
companions and set out with two sledges, heavily laden with provision and
bedding, drawn by the dogs, and conducted by Belanger and the Canadian
sent by Mr. Weeks. Hepburn and Augustus jointly dragged a smaller sledge
laden principally with their own bedding. Adam and Benoit were left to
follow with the Indians. We encamped on the Grassy-Lake Portage, having
walked about nine miles, principally on the Yellow Knife River. It was
open at the rapids and in these places we had to ascend its banks and
walk through the woods for some distance, which was very fatiguing,
especially to Dr. Richardson whose feet were severely galled in
consequence of some defect in his snowshoes.
On the 11th however we arrived at the fort which was still under the
charge of Mr. Weeks. He welcomed us in the most kind manner, immediately
gave us changes of dress, and did everything in his power to make us
comfortable.
Our sensations on being once more in a comfortable dwelling after the
series of hardships and miseries we had experienced may be imagined. Our
first act was again to return our grateful praises to the Almighty for
the manifold instances of His mercy towards us. Having found here some
articles which Mr. Back had sent across from Moose-Deer Island I
determined on awaiting the arrival of Akaitcho and his party in order to
present these to them and to assure them of the promised reward as soon
as it could possibly be procured.
In the afternoon of the 14th Akaitcho with his whole band came to the
fort. He smoked his customary pipe and made an address to Mr. Weeks in
the hall previous to his coming into the room in which Dr. Richardson and
I were. We discovered at the commencement of his speech to us that he had
been informed that our expected supplies had not come. He spoke of this
circumstance as a disappointment indeed sufficiently severe to himself,
to whom his band looked up for the protection of their interests, but
without attaching any blame to us. "The world goes badly," he said "all
are poor; you are poor, the traders appear to be poor, I and my party are
poor likewise, and since the goods have not come in we cannot have them.
I do not regret having supplied you with provisions for a Copper Indian
can never permit white men to suffer from want of food on his lands
without flying to their aid. I trust however that we shall, as you say,
receive what is due next autumn, and at all events," he added in a tone
of good humour, "it is the first time that the white people have been
indebted to the Copper Indians." We assured him the supplies should
certainly be sent to him by the autumn if not before. He then cheerfully
received the small present we made to himself and, although we could give
a few things only to those who had been most active in our service, the
others who perhaps thought themselves equally deserving did not murmur at
being left out in the distribution. Akaitcho afterwards expressed a
strong desire that we should represent the character of his nation in a
favourable light to our countrymen.
